November Severe Weather Events
for Southeast Texas

YEAR

DATE(s)

EVENT

2011

8th

An afternoon EF1 tornado caused extensive damage along Hidden Lakes Drive in Kingwood (Harris County). Numeroud trees were snapped or uprooted, and numerous homes had broken windows and partial roof damage. The same storm system later produced an EF0 tornado at an industrial plant in Texas City (Galveston County). The tornado knocked down over ten empty trailers and did minor damage to the plant.

2009

8th-10th

A combination of raised water levels from a persistent northeast wind and high surf from swells generated by distant Hurricane Ida led to moderate coastal flooding and beach erosion along the coast of Brazoria and Galveston counties.

2007

17th-18th

Flash flooding in and around the intersection of Rinn Road and FM 109 near Industry (Austin County) swept three vehicles off the road. Three occupants were successfully rescued from one of the three vehicles after it became pinned against bridge pilings. One home in the area suffered water damage.

2004

21st

Widespread major flooding occurred across much of Jackson and Wharton counties. Ariel rescues had to be done in Edna and Ganado (Jackson County). In Ganado, only Main Street was passable. Seventy-nine homes and businesses received minor to major flood damage in the two cities. In Wharton County, evacuations were needed - more than 200 El Campo residents were rescued by boat or high-water vehicles. Countywide, 59 homes sustained major damage and 225 homes had minor damage. Total damage costs were around $2.6 million.

2003

17th

A series of tornadic thunderstorms ravaged much of southeast Texas. The storms developed over parts of Wharton and Matagorda counties shortly after sunrise with the first confirmed tornado occurring just east of El Campo around 9:00 am. Before the day ended, there were 24 tornadoes. Major flooding across Harris and surrounding counties occurred during the middle of the tornado outbreak. More than 300 homes and hundreds of vehicles were flooded. By the end of the event, there were 72 injuries and 1 fatality. For more detailed information, see our Southeast Texas November 17, 2003 Tornado Outbreak page.

2002

4th-5th

Flash flooding across much of Southeast Texas resulted in numerous road closures due to the high water across extremely saturated grounds. Total damage costs were close to $500,000.

2000

5th-6th

A powerful squall line associated with a strong cold front quickly swept across Southeast Texas during the night hours of the 5th and early morning ours of the 6th. This was one of the most significant severe weather events of the year. Wind damage was widespread with heavy rainfall and flash flooding occurring across the northern part of Southeast Texas. Two tornadoes occurred - an F1 near Conroe (Montgomery County) and an F0 near Shepherd (San Jacinto County). Total damage costs were around $1.5 million.

2000

2nd-4th

A stationary front draped across Southeast Texas provided the focus for very heavy rainfall and flash flooding across the northern part of the area from the evening of the 2nd through the morning of the 4th. Rainfall totals of 7 to 10 inches were common. The most severe flooding occurred in the Bryan and Kurten areas (Brazos County). These heavy rains busted severe drought conditions that had plagued the area for months. Total damage costs were $3.4 million, $2 million of which occurred across Brazos County.

1998

12th-14th

On the 12th upper level moisture from the Pacific Ocean interacted with low level moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and an approaching upper level storm from the west producing widespread heavy rainfall and flooding over Southeast Texas during the afternoon and evening hours. Rainfall amounts across the area averaged 5 to 7 inches with large areas receiving 7 to 9 inches and isolated amounts in excess of 10 inches. The underlying soil moisture was very high from heavy rains the previous month so considerable runoff was produced. Significant rises occurred on most rivers and streams in the Houston/Galveston county warning area beginning during the late night and early morning hours of the 12th and the 13th. 4 to 6 inches of rain over the Trinity River basin produces rapid rises during the early morning hours of the 13th. Moderate lowland flooding occurred on the Trinity River main stem for several days. Long King Creek in Livingston experienced major flooding with water levels in excess of 30 feet (flooding begins at 19 feet). Moderate flooding also occurred in Menard Creek near Rye as well as Bedias Creek near Madisonville. Flooding on these tributaries lasted for a few days. Residents of several subdivisions along the Trinity River above Liberty were advised to evacuate. Major Cypress Creek during the evening hours of the 12th with significant rise observed on the West and East Forks of the San Jacinto River, Spring Creek, Caney Creek and Luce Bayou during the morning hours of the 13th. Flooding continued for several days. Over 200 homes were flooded along Cypress and Spring Creeks and the West Fork of the San Jacinto River. Numerous roads in Harris and Montgomery counties were inundated and closed during this event. Along the East Fork of the San Jacinto River the community of Plum Grove in Liberty County was severely impacted with several homes flooded and teo major roads into the community closed for more than 24 hours. The community of Patton Village in Montgomery County alos experienced major flooding. Significant flooding also occurred below Lake Houston in the communities of Magnolia Gardens, Banana Bend, and Highland Shores. During the early morning hours of the 14th, 3 to 5 inches of rain over Clear Creek (along the Harris/Galveston county line) produced a rapid rise. Moderate flooding occurred during the afternoon and evening hours. The creek was within banks by the morning of the 15th. Several homes in Friendswood were flooded. Moderate lowland flooding occurred on the Lower Brazos River below Rosharon to below West Columbia. Significant backwater flooding was observed on Varner Creek in Barzoria County. No homes were flooded but several minor roads were inundated. Moderate flooding was also observed on East and Middle Yegua Creeks with minor lowland flooding on the Navasota River near Normangee. Significant flooding occurred on Mill Creek in Austin County with several roads inundated and closed. Major lowland flooding occurred once again on the San Bernard River above Highway 60 near wallsi to below Sweeny. No homes were flooded, but several major roads were closed. Evacuation of the El Lobo subdivision in Wharton County was recommended. Barge traffic to the Phillips Petroleum facility near Sweeny was halted for several days. In Fort bend County, FM 2919 near the Tierra Grande subdivision had water to the bottom of the bridge. Minor flooding also occurred on Chocolate bayou near Alvin, on the Tres Palacios River in Matagorda County and on East Mustang Creek in Wharton County. Significant rises were also observed on the Brazos River in the channel above Bryan to below Richmond and on the Colorado River above Columbus to below Bay City. However, flood stages were not exceeded and only minor inundation of low areas along these rivers was reported. Fortunately, no deaths were reported in this flood event, however it was the second major flood event on many of these watersheds in less than one month.

1997

5th

Thunderstorm winds and small hail occurred during the early morning hours across Galveston Island. Winds downed powerlines and overturned an 18-wheeler at Harborside Drive and Avenue A, blew off a hotel roof on 61st Street, blew out windows at the Moody Center on the Seawall, and destroyed a garden shed at a nursery on 32nd Street. A couple hours later, additional thunderstorms produced large hail and flash flooding across Houston and Trinity Counties, especially in the Crockett and Groveton areas.

1996

7th

A Thunderstorm winds Over $100,000 in damage stretched across portions of nearly all counties along and north of Interstate 10 where trees and powerlines were downed and homes were damaged.

1996

16th-17th

A tight pressure gradient produced strong east winds that caused coastal flooding and beach erosion along the Upper Texas Coast. Tides ranged from 3 to 5 feet above predicted astronomical levels. Roads were damaged and beachfront homes had their foundations undercut. Total damage was $700,000.

A supercell thunderstorm produced an F1 Tornado out ahead of an advancing squall line. The tornado touched down just north of US Hwy 59 and Louisiana Street in downtown Houston, traveled about two miles along Smith Street and crossed Interstate 45 and into the highrise section of the downtown area. Emergency Management officials reported 26 minor injuries and 30 cars damaged. The major damage was to apartments with roof failures. About 60 windows popped out of the Enron Building, a 95 story office building.

1992

21st

Probably the most dramatic tornado outbreak in the history of the Houston area occured during the mid afternoon hours on this date. Incredibly, not a single life was lost in this violent episode of Houston severe weather. Among the many tornadoes was an F4 tornado in the Channelview area of Harris County. At one point, this tornado was one mile wide. An excellent summary of this event, including the weather patterns leading up to the tormadoes and detailed damage results can be found at the Cluster Tornado Outbreak in Houston, TX by Tim Marshall.

1987

15th

A very intense upper air disturbance and associated surface trough of low pressure moved eastward across Southeast Texas during the afternoon and evening hours. The severe thunderstorms produced several tornadoes and several downbursts of wind. There were four obvious tornadoes with paths up to 10 miles long. The tornadoes killed 5 persons. The tornadoes and high winds injured another 35 people. The worst damage was from two F2 tornadoes around Caldwell (Burleson County) and near Normangee (Madison County).

1986

23rd-24th

Heavy Rains over a two day period produced mostly minor flooding in northern Galveston and southern Harris counties. Santa Fe (Galveston County) reported 7.50 inches of rain on the 23rd plus an additional 4 to 5 inches on the 24th. Resulting flood waters flooded some homes in Santa Fe near Highway 646 plus some homes northward from there towards Dickinson Bayou. All together, about a dozen homes in Santa Fe, Dickinson and League City had water in them. Roads were flooded in Alvin, Kemah and over Highway 87 at Port Bolivar. Streets were also flooded in south Houston, especially along Clear Creek from Telephone Road to FM 528. Other two day rainfall totals in the area included 9.75 inches at San Jacinto, 6.50 inches at Spring Branch and 6.06 inches at New Caney.